Luminous display device



April 10, 1951 M. E. SHOLKIN LUMINOUS DISPLAY DEVICE Filed June 14, 1946INVENTOR. MURRAY E. SHOLKIN BY :7: a ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 10, 1951UNITEDSTATESW P OFFICE.

Murray E. Sholkin, Newton, Mass., assignor to Beacon ProductsCorporation, Boston, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts ApplicationJune 14, 1946, Serial No. 676,749

2 Claims. 1 The present invention relates to a display device and moreparticularly to such a display device by means of which a design andletters or Words, illuminated, if desired, may be displayed. The presentinvention more particularly relates to such a device in which atransparent plastic which readily conducts light may be used to transmitthe light from a source to the vicinity of the elements to beilluminated. Various plastics of this nature have in recent years beendeveloped among which that known by the trade name Lucite is commonlyemployed.

In the present invention the display stand and the illuminating elementform the part of a unitary structure with the illuminating element,

however, independent of the display device. Fur

ther, in accordance with the present invention, the display device isconstructed in such a mannor that it stands in a firmly balancedposition on a fiat surface with the portion forming the dis-- play boardextending upwardly considerably higher than the base of the device.

These features and other features of construction will be more readilyunderstood from a description of the present invention in thespecification below taken in connection with the drawing showing anembodiment of the same in which:

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a side elevation as viewed from the right of Figure l,and

Figure 3 shows an enlarged sectional view taken through Figure 1.

In the arrangement shown in the drawings, the device comprises atransparent light conducting and light illuminating plate I of anefiicient light transmitting plastic such as Lucite or other knownplastic materials having similar properties. This plate I may haveetched into it or embossed on it or cemented to it letters or signs 2such as shown by the word Today which may become luminous throughreflectionor transmission of light through the plate l. The plate I maybe provided with an open window such shown at 3 behind which or intowhich a special display board 4 may be placed. This display board mayextend backward of the plate l and be supported at the rear by means ofangle elements 5, 6 and 7 cemented or attached to the plate I so thatthe display board i may be slipped into place and removed at will.

Since illumination travels upward through the bend 8 at the base of theplate 1 into the plate l,

it will enter the display board 4 through the edges 9, l0, Hand l2 andilluminate any letters, signs or insignia, etc. which may be on thedisplay board 4. The plate l and the bent section 8 at the base areformed as a single element. The other end of the base section 8 extendsinto the cabinet l2 in which the light source is contained. The cabinetE2 is formed with a hinged cover l3 covering the cabinet I 2 and isprovided with base rests M, l 4, etc. which are at the same level as thecurved surface of the section it so that these rests and the curvedsurface form the base for the stand or plate I.

The cabinet or case iz has an inwardly bent flange IE to which theterminal end is of the base section 8 is attached by being bolted orriveted by the clamping member I l, as indicated in Figure 3. The lip 18of the cover It bears down against the face of the terminal end it,under which lip may be a rubber guard l9 which will act as a protectionfor the member l5 and also prevent light from being seen through theedge of the case. Light from the fluorescent tube 2! passes into the end20 of the element It, travels around the bend 8 and upward through theplate I. The fluorescent tube 2| which may be as long as the width ofthe plate I (or some other light source may be used) is mounted by meansof a fixture at each end, one of which, 22, is shown in Figure 3. Thesemounting fixtures may be of the usual type and may be used in connectionwith a ballast 23, if desired.

The unit as a whole may be placed upon a table or board with the plate Iextending upward and backward and completely balanced and steadied bythe base consisting of the bend 8 and the cabinet or casing l2containing the ballast 23 at its rear furnishing additional weight sothat the display stand will not be easily toppled over.

The light coming up through the plate 5 and shining through the windowedges in the window 4 will illuminate the sign to the rear of the standor within the window itself.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A luminous display stand comprising a plastic. transparent lighttransmitting and illuminating plate adapted to provide illumination ofletters on the surface thereof and mounted therein, said plate curvingat its bottom in an arch to provide a base and then continuing upwardsfrom the base and terminating in a straight end section and spaced abovethe base, a cabinet positioned beside said base with one of its surfacessubstantially coextensive therewith and with a slot REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the ifile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Jones Feb. 26, 1935 Mattman Feb.9, 1937 Madan May 23, 1939 Cunningham Apr. 2, 1940 Vargish Oct. 22, 1946

